The Nottinghamshire Heritage Awards 2018 took place on Thursday 14 June, providing the opportunity to celebrate excellence across the county’s museums, historic houses and heritage sites. The awards, arranged by the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum, recognised innovation, creativity and sheer determination, featuring award entries from organisations across the county.

The awards ceremony took place at Nottingham Trent University’s Pavilion Building at the Clifton Campus on Thursday 14 June. More than 60 guests attended the evening awards ceremony to celebrate the many achievements of Nottinghamshire’s heritage sites over the past two years, as part of the biennial awards.

The 2018 awards received 28 award entries, made by 16 individual heritage organisations- all hoping to scoop an award from a total of 8 award categories. The entries were made by heritage organisations both large and small- from all corners of the county. All of the entries demonstrated the outstanding innovation, hard work and creativity taking place in heritage organisations across Nottinghamshire. The awards were judged by Jayne Nightingale- Partnerships Manager at Visit Nottinghamshire, Rebecca Morris-Buck Alumni Relationship Co-ordinator at Nottingham Trent University and Dr Katharina Massing- Lecturer in Museum and Heritage Studies at Nottingham Trent University. The judging panel were particularly impressed with the variety of entries, many of which benefited local community audiences, and showcased new ideas for engaging visitors of all ages. Tough decisions were made by the judges, from applications, plus supporting photographs and feedback put forward by entrants.

John Holmes of BBC Radio Nottingham presented a celebratory awards ceremony, which showcased a snapshot of each of the award entrants’ projects and provided a broad and inspirational picture of the fantastic projects undertaken across the county over the past two years.

The awards ceremony was preceded in the day by the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum Conference 2018, which was attended by many of the entrants, as well as wider heritage organisations, and concluded with a light-hearted Nottinghamshire Heritage Quiz before the evening awards ceremony.

This year’s awards featured a total of eight award categories, plus two judges’ special awards. Each of the award winners received a trophy. The Winners were…

The awards, organised by the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum, would not have been possible without sponsorship from Nottingham Trent University and Museum Development East Midlands, plus the generous assistance of John Holmes of BBC Radio Nottingham and this year’s judges Jayne Nightingale of Visit Nottinghamshire and Rebecca Morris-Buck and Dr Katharina Massing of Nottingham Trent University. The awards were organised in conjunction with support from Culture Syndicates CIC.

Conference talks and practical workshops will explore how enabling visitors to take a step closer into the lives of others via creative interpretation and interactives can inspire people within heritage themes and provide opportunities to connect with new viewpoints and stories.

(Option 2) Talk: ‘Fighting for Our Heritage’ TBC
A second chance to find out more about the WW1 projects undertaken across Nottinghamshire as part of the Fighting for our Heritage HLF funded project

4:00pm The Great Nottinghamshire Heritage Quiz

5:00pm Close

Followed by a buffet and the Nottinghamshire Heritage Awards 2018 Ceremony at 7pm

Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum are delighted to welcome:

Keynote Speaker: Alison Oddey- ‘Working with Heritage Sites to Produce Interactive Performances’
Alison Oddey is a distinguished academic of over 30 years’ experience in Visual Culture, the Arts, Contemporary Performance, Film and Heritage. Alison is currently Visiting Professor of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy; Visiting Professor of Visual Culture and Contemporary Performance at the University of Derby, UK and Reader in Visual Arts & Health at Nottingham Trent University.
Alison has published seven books, designing, writing and producing work for a variety of contexts. She will be speaking about her latest works, which are interdisciplinary and international, but with the key aim of exciting and engaging new audiences to think about life with renewed vigour and perspective.

Workshop: Ian Rowson – ‘Making Collection Catalogues on a Budget’
I’ve been working in and around the heritage sector for around 20 years, after spending the early part of my career in various technical roles in commercial companies.
My museum experience is primarily in applying ICT to the field of collections management and public access, hence my current position working for the main software company in that arena. I am particularly interested in social and industrial history, and have been a trustee for a local industrial museum for the last 18 months. My undergraduate study was in Photography, where I specialised in digital imaging. I then later went on to complete a Masters in Heritage Studies at Nottingham Trent University.

Workshop: Exploring the Dressing Up Box
Top tips from local professionals on how costumed interpretation can help bring heritage sites to life, with cost effective ways to get started and ideas to take away. The workshop will be delivered by Naomi Garnett, Learning and Access Manager at the National Justice Museum, Carol King, Assistant Business Manager (Interim), Heritage, Culture & Visitors in Newark and Eleanor Baumber, Collections Development Manager at Lincolnshire County Council

Fighting For Our Heritage Talks
Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum’s ‘Fighting for Our Heritage’ project works with heritage organisations across the county to engage non-traditional heritage audiences to look at how the First World War and its aftermath affected life for people in the County. The project is facilitated by a £23k grant awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Now in its 2nd year, a selection of the 6 organisations involved speak about the exhibitions, events and resources they have been developing. Organisations include The Museum of the Mercian Regiment (WFR Collection), Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum, Newark Town Hall Museum and Art Gallery, Mansfield Fire Museum, Radcliffe-on-Trent Local History Society and Gringley History Club

PLUS, The Great Nottinghamshire Heritage Quiz
The conference will conclude with a light-hearted heritage quiz, with prizes and a trophy to be won. We will be asking teams to sign up during the day, for a chance to win the most prestigious award Champions of the ‘Great Nottinghamshire Quiz 2018’! Rounds include:
• Pictures – Can you tell your Stonehenge from your Seahenge?
• Music– Not featuring King Crimson’s ‘The World’s My Oyster Soup Kitchen Wax Museum’
• Film– Museums in film, for those nights in where you can’t escape work.
• What the heck is it? We all have them: name that object.
• Creative- Find out if you’re the next Henry Moore.

We would like to invite you to enter the Nottinghamshire Heritage Awards 2018.

Entry is free for members and they are a great opportunity to celebrate the wonderful work and outstanding achievements in your museums, historic houses and heritage sites across the county.

Entry for non-members is £25 and includes membership to the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum.

By entering for an Award you can:
• Showcase your progress and successes, raising your public profile and recognition.
• Recognise the hard work of your staff and volunteers.
• Share best practice across the heritage and museums sector.

The Awards are organised by the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum, Nottingham Trent University, and Culture Syndicates CIC.

There are six award categories:

• Best Exhibition
This award will recognise best practice in exhibition design and delivery. The exhibition can be temporary, permanent or digital and delivered at your venue or as an outreach event.BEST EXHIBITION- Download Application Form Here

• Heritage Site of the Year
This award celebrates exceptional achievements by heritage organisations in Nottinghamshire. It will recognise organisations which have provided the very best heritage engagement opportunities for visitors, volunteers and staff.HERITAGE SITE OF THE YEAR- Download Application Form Here

When deciding which category to enter, think about all the different projects, exhibitions, outreach, events and other work you have been doing between April 2016 and 30th April 2018 (but not necessarily for the whole period of that time).

What has worked really well for your organisation and your visitors? These could be open days, events, new exhibitions, community work, research, talks and lectures, collections projects, or work with schools or other projects with children and young people.

The culmination of the Awards will be a presentation ceremony which will take place at Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus on Thursday 14th June 2018.

The ceremony will be a great opportunity for all those involved in museums and heritage across Nottinghamshire to catch up with friends and colleagues and celebrate all the fabulous work taking place.

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES:
5pm on the 30th April 2018.

HOW TO APPLY:
To apply send your completed entry form and supporting material to: hollie@culturesyndicates.co.uk

Entry forms can be downloaded under the award titles below.

If you have any queries please contact Neville Stankley on Neville.stankley@ntu.ac.uk or telephone 0115 848 3389.

In conjunction with Nottinghamshire County Council the Forum is inviting heritage organisations from across the county to participate in a WWI Heritage Day at Rufford Abbey Country Park on 11th July 2018.

This high profile event commemorates the centenary of the end of the First World War and offers an excellent opportunity for Nottinghamshire Heritage organisations to showcase themselves and their WWI stories.

Visitors will be of all ages and will include a series of invited local schools.

Stalls are offered FREE to heritage sites, access to the site will be from 9.30am with free parking for up to two cars per organisation and a small bursary for travel if required.

To express your interest in attending as a host organisation please complete the expression of interest form below and return by Friday 8 June 2018.

We are looking for an individual with a passion for customer care and an interest in history to join our small, dedicated team engaged in day to day operational delivery of a museum service of the highest standard.

This is a varied and interesting role involving managing museum collections; processing new acquisitions, the handling, storage and care of museum objects, general reception duties and running the museum shop. In addition you will be involved in planning and booking exhibitions and planning and construction of museum displays and exhibitions.

Ideally you will have experience of working within a museum, heritage or similar environment and essentially you should possess:

• 5 GCSEs or equivalent, including Maths and English,
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• High levels of accuracy in recording information and following procedures
• Excellent customer care skills
• Ability to work within a team and on own initiative
• Good IT skills, including experience of working with computers including word, excel, e mail and confidence utilising social media
• Ability to assist in delivering events and activities to adults and children

The benefits include a minimum of 24 days annual leave, in addition to bank holidays and a generous pension scheme.

EASTWOOD’S D.H Lawrence Birthplace Museum has been awarded a VisitEngland Hidden Gem Accolade, received as part of VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme.

Assessors who visited praised the Museum for its exceptionally interesting tour, the outstanding knowledge and enthusiasm and great visitor care displayed by the staff, the intriguing human interest information provided and the overall high level of presentation and maintenance of the museum.

Councillor Shane Easom, Chair of the Leisure and Environment Committee said: “We are delighted with this accolade and it’s a credit to all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes that ensures that visitors have a great experience when they visit.”

“It takes a dedicated team working on collections management, interpretation, research, visitor engagement, not to mention a museum, exhibitions space and a gift shop. It is evident that you don’t have to be a fan of Lawrence to enjoy a visit and receiving the accolade helps to confirm this. We hope this accolade will encourage more visitors to seek out this place of significant cultural interest.”

The museum is tucked away on a neatly cobbled street, behind the main shopping area of Eastwood and so is somewhat ‘hidden’.

The authentically restored Victorian house in which D.H. Lawrence was born and lived until he was two years of age is much bigger inside than first assumed. In each room there is meticulous attention to the style of the period, nothing is roped off and combined with the fully guided tour visitors receive an immersive experience of life in a Victorian household. D.H. Lawrence is one of the most famous and often controversial writers of the 20th century and if you are a fan, then a visit to the museum and the area is a must.

The museum is also a starting point to explore the beautiful surrounding countryside, which inspired so much of Lawrence’s work, and the Blue Line Trail; an urban walk taking you by other points of interest relating to Lawrence.

The D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum is an award winning visitor attraction in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire (not far from junction 26 of the M1 and the IKEA retail park). It combines D.H. Lawrence’s authentically recreated childhood home, with an exhibition space celebrating the author’s life, work and humble beginnings. From here you can also explore the surrounding countryside, which inspired his work.

The D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. For more information, please contact the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum on (0115) 9173824, email dhlawrence@liberty-leisure.org.uk or visit www.liberty-leisure.org.uk/dhlawrence Facilities include a charming gift shop, tea and coffee, and a picnic area.

The Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum has conducted a commemorative event in conjunction with Nottinghamshire County Council to mark the centenary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

The civic event, held at Nottinghamshire County Hall, was attended by Leader of the County Council Alan Rhodes, Armed Forces Champion Cllr Ian Campbell, Chairman of the County Council Yvonne Woodhead and various other distinguished guests.

There were also representatives from local museums and the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum in attendance, who were dressed in traditional garments of the time as part of the experience. The Heritage Forum provided a variety of displays and a special showing of a World War One propaganda film which were seen by attendees.

The event was the first of a series for the Heritage Forum, with the film set to be shown at six venues across the local area in the coming months, the next of which is in Nottingham Castle on 23rd July.

The fascinating displays included exhibits from Clipstone Camp showcasing the area’s impact on the War, the Museum of the Horse in Tuxford who provided Wartime cavalry equipment, information from Radcliffe-on-Trent detailing how the war affected the local area and its people, and a display by the Heritage Forum with artefacts from Bilsthorpe Heritage Centre, Flintham Museum, Ruddington Village Museum and the National Civil War Centre.

The day began with a military service in front of the Memorial Plaque at the front of County Hall, with the County Council Choir singing several wartime songs and readings being given by various military and county personnel.

Over a million people are thought to have died over the course of the Battle of the Somme, one of the most deadly battles in British history, with the British sustaining roughly 60 000 casualties on the first day alone. Two minutes of silence were observed at 11am to commemorate these losses.

Attendees were then invited inside to view the displays and exhibitions, with the captivating information entertaining all in attendance.

Skye Barrett and Caitlin Peck, MA Heritage students at Nottingham Trent University who helped setup and organise the event with the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum, then introduced the gripping film from 1916. The film showed various aspects of life on the frontline, as well as some footage of troops in action on 1st July 1916.

The enthralling film was originally viewed by a staggering 20 million people within just six weeks of its release, and at one point Nottinghamshire locals raised concern over the fact that children could be admitted to the cinema to see it for a penny on weekends. However, the film proved so popular that this concern was ignored.

Members of the Western Front Association and Neil Bettison, Community Development Officer, gave specialist insight into the images being shown, adding absorbing knowledge to the film.

Councillor Woodhead brought the event to a close by stating that “The statistics barely show the horror or the heroism.”

She went on to say that “Our worst day was also our best day,” and that we must work to “reconcile the past moving forward.”

Skye Barrett said of the event; “It was really nice to be a part of the project right through its development. It’s really increased my sense of community.”

Caitlin Peck echoed her sentiment. “It’s been great to see the project grow from its beginning. And it’s been nice to engage audiences who don’t normally go to museums – it’s been very rewarding to connect with people in the county.”

The film experience, complete with compelling displays, will next be shown in Nottingham Castle on 23rd July.

‘The Problem of the Poor?’ is a volunteer-based heritage project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund which offers a range of roles. There is something for everyone, suited to different interests and levels of experience, with total beginners especially welcome.

For those with existing experience of carrying out family, local or social history there are roles as independent researchers, exploring the history of the Nottingham Society for Organising Charity (now NCVS), formed in 1875, during its first 25 years. Certain areas of this history and the figures, places, and concepts associated with it could be researched remotely, from outside of Nottingham. There are also opportunities to become heritage buddies, supporting volunteers new to heritage in a series of fun, interactive, workshops and learning sessions.

Volunteers new to heritage, research or Nottingham’s history are also being sought. In a series of hands-on, informal, workshops they’ll be guided, and equipped with the skills, to explore the difficulties faced by the poorest residents of Nottingham in 1875-1901, the struggles that they faced, the statutory and non-statutory support ostensibly available to them, and the repercussions of choices made in the times of greatest difficulty.

Sessions will take place in the city centre, and primarily at NCVS’s building. Travel expenses are available.

The project will run for 6 months and is due to start in late March 2015.

For more information or to get involved contact Alison, project leader, for an informal chat:

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has approved a bid to develop a Landscape Partnership scheme in Sherwood Forest, which could ultimately see a £3.7m restoration of the ancient woodland and celebration of Sherwood’s cultural heritage.

The “From miner to Major: the real Sherwood Forest” project aims to reflect the diverse heritage of the area, which encompasses coal mining and internationally important wildlife, as well as the legendary Robin Hood.

A development grant of £119,000 will enable the Sherwood Forest Landscape Partnership to develop ideas that will rebuild Sherwood Forest’s sense of place, reconnecting its ancient woodlands, heathlands, and cultural heritage.

The bid has been submitted by Nottinghamshire County Council on behalf of a growing partnership of organisations from the, heritage, conservation and community sectors (see Notes to Editors).

Success represents completion of the first part of HLF’s two-stage process and means that a further phase of development work can now go ahead. This development phase is expected to take 18 months and will prepare detailed proposals for a series of schemes to be implemented on the ground from 2017.

If the second stage of the application is successful, the value of the final scheme is expected to be worth around £3.7m. Projects would be supported over an area of around 200 square kilometres and managed by a range of public and private landowners.

Local people and community groups would be encouraged and supported to take part in projects in their community, aimed at learning about, conserving or celebrating their area’s heritage.

Councillor John Knight, Chairman of the Culture Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are overjoyed to hear of the bid’s success as there were many applicants and a lot of competition. It reflects well on the hard work that was put in by many partners. We recognise that this is only the first step in our aspirations to make more of Sherwood’s heritage, but it is a very important step as it will enable us to carry out careful study and consultation to make sure that we have got the best possible programme of proposals.”

John Everitt, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Chair of the Sherwood Forest Regional Park Board, said: “This is excellent news, which confirms the national importance of Sherwood Forest and will help us to realise the vision of a Regional Park. Extra funding from HLF will offer great opportunities to restore industrial areas to wildlife-rich heathland and woodland. We also want to use the richness of the area’s built and cultural heritage to connect with local communities and to stimulate a visitor economy.”

The Friends of Moor Pond Wood is one local group that is supporting the bid. Stephen Walker, chairman of the Friends, said: “Thanks to HLF, we have already been able to find out more about our own site. We know that there are lots more groups interested in the heritage of their biodiversity, archaeology or built heritage and this scheme should enable lots more projects to get off the ground. We are looking forward to sharing our experience and ideas with other local groups so that they can get under way.”

Drew Bennellick, Head of Landscape and Natural Heritage, Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “On the eve of The National Lottery’s 20th birthday, this is the perfect moment to thank Lottery players for helping make possible our Landscape Partnership programme. We couldn’t have done it without them.

“Ten years ago we developed Landscape Partnerships so that we could deliver conservation on a truly landscape scale. With so many habitats and species in decline and people becoming less and less connected to nature and the land, the programme was the first of its kind to allow conservationists to work at a cross-landscape scale. The programme has grown rapidly and is now leading the way in allowing many of our most treasured landscapes, as well as some of our most damaged, to be managed for the future in a sustainable way.

“Involving people as volunteers, training them as guides or helping them learn new skills has enabled local people to appreciate, value and speak up for the countryside. Our funding has led to new strategic partnerships between private, public, charitable and community bodies. It has also ensured that the UK’s most precious resource, our landscape, will be protected for future generations. Thank you, Lottery players!”

Trent to Trenches is a City and County-wide programme of events taking place during 2014 to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War. It includes a major exhibition at Nottingham Castle from Saturday 26th July to Sunday 16th November 2014, together with a range of smaller exhibitions, events and research projects taking place throught the county.

Nottingham Castle Exhibition

Marking one hundred years since the outbreak of the Great War, this exhibition explores the experiences of the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, at home and in the trenches in Northern France, through powerful images, diaries, letters and artefacts. The exhibition will draw on a range of collections, including loans from national institutions. The themes will be broad ranging, covering the involvement of local people in all theatres of the global conflict, their involvement in all services and on the home front and examining the changes wrought on society by the conflict.